BMC panel chief slams Sena men over drain checks

Angered by the careless approach towards the inspection of nullahs, the Shiv Sena leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has warned its corporators that they should either not neglect their duty, or give up their posts in the standing committee.

Rahul Shewale, chairman of the civic standing committee, sent letters to all the nine Shiv Sena corporators in the committee (out of the total 27 members), asking them to resign, if they are not serious about their duties as representatives of the people.

Shewale’s anger stems from the fact that the corporators failed to turn up at the scheduled inspection of the nullahs in the Eastern suburbs on Tuesday. The inspection was planned especially for the members and only two of them accompanied Shewale on his visit.

Ironically, these members are the ones who always attack the civic administrations and contractors over lethargy with regard to desilting work.

“They have no right to criticise the administration if they don’t go on field to see the desilting work and progress,” said Shewale. He said he had sent them the warning letters. This year, the desilting of the nullahs began a month behind schedule, which has raised corporator’s doubts over meeting the May 31 deadline.

In response to Shewale’s letter, a Sena corporator and member of the standing committee said, “Who is he to ask us to resign?” The member said he would complain to Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray about Shewale, to which Shewale said, “Let them complain, I have already informed my leader.”

With only four days left, the civic administration claimed that about 70% of the desilting work had been completed, and that they would be able to meet the deadline.